Having read the CFRs...where exactly did the NVDC say you were in violation?

I really never saw anything that said you or the rest of us are/were in violation be a use most of our boats do not need to be documented in the first place for USCG purposes.

46CFR67.313(a) The person in command of a documented vessel must have on board that vessel the original Certificate of Documentation currently in effect for that vessel.

46CFR67.315(a) The person in command of a documented vessel must produce the original Certificate of Documentation currently in effect for that vessel upon the demand of any person acting in an official public capacity.

46CFR67.313(a) The person in command of a documented vessel must have on board that vessel the original Certificate of Documentation currently in effect for that vessel.

46CFR67.315(a) The person in command of a documented vessel must produce the original Certificate of Documentation currently in effect for that vessel upon the demand of any person acting in an official public capacity.

Thank you CT.

I saw that while going over 46CFR, but couldn't locate the section regarding the fine.

OD

__________________

__________________
"I'm the only one who has removed half a brain, but if you went to Washington, you'd think someone beat me to it"...Dr. Ben Carson 08-06-2015

I've never heard of anyone getting into trouble in the US while waiting on their documentation. Now I have heard of those who hadn't property registered their boat.

As to a violation of the law, you would win that case 99.9% of the time. The law provides an impractical and unenforceable rule as evidenced by no new purchasers being able to comply. No judge or jury would ever convict, which is another reason the USCG will not try to enforce. They are returning now to temporary permits.

If you're really concerned then you can always do a priority request.

If leaving the country, you should always do a priority request. Those in other countries won't understand your reasons. However, there are exceptions to that. If I had a boat registered I wouldn't hesitate to take it to the Bahamas while waiting. They are use to non-documented US vessels coming with their state registration.

46CFR67.313(a) The person in command of a documented vessel must have on board that vessel the original Certificate of Documentation currently in effect for that vessel.

46CFR67.315(a) The person in command of a documented vessel must produce the original Certificate of Documentation currently in effect for that vessel upon the demand of any person acting in an official public capacity.

But if the document has not been issued yet from the NVDC, only applied for, do you have a documented vessel?

I have seen many regs like this through my USCG career that were catch 22s. The preferred mortgage thing is what probably has drug recreational vessels along with all the boats that HAVE to be documented....now everyone in the system thinks and treats recreational boats the same.

Even directors of centers and Lawyers are totally convinced till you make them point out the specific wording. They stumble around for a bit....can't find the law with any teeth in it...so they go back to generic sayings like "you are required to have it with you at all times" and then tell you that is "their" interpretation and that makes it administratively OK.

Well....they have that option...till they think twice about actually trying to enforce it.

Otherwise...this is not new...this question probably has been asked before and yet isn't specifically on the FAQ page.....I can only wonder why....

Though I would love to know for sure...I just can't find anything definite yet.

I still don't see where if a recreational vessel...which is NOT required to be documented by law....if the documentation lapses that you are in violation of anything.

This is an important point. When you fail to renew your documentation, it does not lapse and the vessel does not go out of documentation, you simply are in violation of the agreement you made when you received Federal documentation. You can be required to pay for documentation violations.

This whole issue came up for me when I asked the NVDC about a procedural side issue. The NVDC lawyer could have written back that, as soon as my COD became invalid because of the sale and my application for exchange of documentation, my vessel was no longer documented and operation was between me and the state whose waters the vessel was in. She didn't say that. Instead, she wrote very clearly that my vessel was still considered to be in documentation but, if I operated it, I would be in violation of the provisions and responsibilities of documentation. This would be true even if I was also state registered. When I spoke to the chief of enforcement in the district about how to legally move the boat, he called the NVDC and got the same answer. That fellow did confirm that, in the case of a state registered only vessel, you are permitted to operate for up to 60 days with the bill of sale. I believe somewhere in the USCG, possibly at the NVDC to increase pressure for increase funding, someone is taking a hard line towards extending this quite reasonable provision formally to documented vessels.

Removing a boat from documentation is an affirmative act and paper chase that required just as much, or more, action on the part of the NVDC than simply changing the owner's name and issuing a new document. If I were trying to surrender my documentation as countless posters have suggested above, I doubt they would have found or looked at that application yet either. I would then have to grind off the hull numbers and reinstating documentation would be an even longer and more involved paper chase.

Documentation carries other risks. Did you know that, in time of war or other emergency, the government can seize your documented vessel and put it into national service? This happened to lots of large yachts in WW I and II. They had guns bolted on their decks and were sent out to look for German subs off the coast. I think it pretty unlikely that my boat will be sent out to patrol for ISIS suicide craft but, legally, it could happen.

But if the document has not been issued yet from the NVDC, only applied for, do you have a documented vessel?

If the vessel was not previously documented and you are waiting for a first time COD, the answer is "No".

If the vessel had an COD that had become invalid either due to lack of renewal or signing of a bill of sale, then the answer is "Yes", it is a documented vessel. However, if operated, it is doing so in a technical violation for which they could (however unlikely it may be in the real world) fine the operator significantly.

This all looks different to me having spent a career in two different regulated transportation industries. I have seen people fined and put through nightmares that were rationally a lot less likely to have happened than what we are talking about here. If anyone wants some good sea stories, let me know.

This is an important point. When you fail to renew your documentation, it does not lapse and the vessel does not go out of documentation, you simply are in violation of the agreement you made when you received Federal documentation. You can be required to pay for documentation

Edited for space.........

Documentation carries other risks. Did you know that, in time of war or other emergency, the government can seize your documented vessel and put it into national service? This happened to lots of large yachts in WW I and II. They had guns bolted on their decks and were sent out to look for German subs off the coast. I think it pretty unlikely that my boat will be sent out to patrol for ISIS suicide craft but, legally, it could happen.

Yes I know all the trivia...

And I stand by my posts...show me the money.....I would ask the lawyers what law I am violating. The COD is invalid at the time of sale...yes...but the new owner is not required to document unless by prefered mortgage...etc as I posted before. But if no preferred, and the paperwork was legally signed and submitted without application.....how does that make you illegal to operate your new boat?

I think there is a big misunderstanding here with the lawyer...as usual in my experience.

This is where I got tired of tracking down minutia...if you want to show me where it's against the law...fine..but I don't buy that it is....

CFR Title 46 S hipping
Subpart L—Validity of Certificates
of Documentation; Renewal of
Endorsement; Requirement for
Exchange, Replacement, De-
letion, Cancellation
§ 67.161 Validity of Certificate of Docu-
mentation.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of this subpart, except as provided
in paragraph (b) of this section, a Cer-
tificate of Documentation but no trade
endorsement thereon, issued to a vessel
which is the subject of an outstanding
mortgage filed or recorded in accord-
ance with subpart Q of this part or any
predecessor regulations, remains valid
for purposes of:
(1) 46 U.S.C. chapter 125;
(2) 46 U.S.C. chapter 313 for an instru-
ment filed or recorded before the date
of invalidation, and an assignment or a
notice of claim of lien filed after that
date;
(3) Sections 9 and 37(b) of the Ship-
ping Act, 1916 (46 U.S.C. app. 808,
835(b)); and
(4) Section 902 of the Merchant Ma-
rine Act, 1936 (46 U.S.C. app. 1242).

The new owner whether a new COD is applied for or not has no obligation I believe to tell a boarding officer that the vessel was or will be documented. Now, the boarding officer will ask for documentation (which you don't have) or state registration. I suppose you are technically supposed to have one or the other.

Usually good to have a copy of the back of the previous owners COD that is signed and a CG1340 Bill of Sale.

Why doesn't the bill of sale say something on it like "Use of vessel is prohibited until new COD is received...even if you aren't going to apply for one"

Many of us dont...we just rely on a bill of sale....but at that point...I stil, don't think the USCG can do squat about a new boat to you....other than say prove it's your boat (which state registration would do).

In fact...there isnt anything I can find that requires a seller to even tell a buyer they are buying a previously documented vessel...so what's a new owner to do?

And until you as the new owner receive a NEW ....COD....I can find no regulation saying that you have to tie up your vessel until approved.

As I posted before...I think that lawyer was not fully explaining reality....probably caught up in speak that is normally used for vessels that HAVE to be documented....

Upon further reading I see the catch 22.... I guess you are supposed to wait until either your new COD arrives...or the good natured previous owner takes his boat out of Documentation status all legal and like....good luck making that happen..and good luck to the USCG trying to enforce dysfunctional documentation rules.

Like I said though..you could by a boat and not even know you were breaking the rules unless the owner has you sign a CG1340 ....

46CFR67.313(a) The person in command of a documented vessel must have on board that vessel the original Certificate of Documentation currently in effect for that vessel.

46CFR67.315(a) The person in command of a documented vessel must produce the original Certificate of Documentation currently in effect for that vessel upon the demand of any person acting in an official public capacity.

I think the loop hole here is "...Certificate of Documentation currently in effect for that vessel....."

During the processing period, there is no certificate of documentation that is currently in effect. The old one expires when the boat changes hands, and the USCG has yet to issued a new one. I would never argue this with an inspecting officer (and never expect that I would need to), but if I ended up arguing a fine or such thing I think this is the angle I'd use.

Where the violation probably exists is with state law since if you are not Documented, you need to be state registered with bow numbers. Or maybe that's a federal regulation as well.....?

As soon as you sell a documented boat, it is automatically removed from documentation. I found this out the hard way. The new owner needs to apply to put it back in.

And, no, there is nothing that says you need to put it back into documentation. But if you don't, you need to state register and get bow numbers. And you would also be wise to get a state title so you can subsequently sell the boat in the future.

As soon as you sell a documented boat, it is automatically removed from documentation. I found this out the hard way. The new owner needs to apply to put it back in.

And, no, there is nothing that says you need to put it back into documentation. But if you don't, you need to state register and get bow numbers. And you would also be wise to get a state title so you can subsequently sell the boat in the future.

Not sure how the USCG knows until they receive and process any of the sellers paperwork though.....what happened to clue you in to their process?

Good point about getting a state title if not going to document...and if your boat was...I'm not sure there is one to sign over to the new owner.

Also...read awhile back that states cant issue a legal title to your boat if it is documented (NJ issues some dummy one for the paperwork process and retains it in Trenton). Can never find the NVDC note that they sent out about it but just found this that makes me think I'm not dreaming up the no-title thing....

A recreational vessel which is documented has a certificate of admeasurement stating that the vessel is of at least 5 net tons, U.S. citizens own at least 51% of the vessel, it has a marking certificate (hull number), and the owners have filed an application for a Document with the Coast Guard. Under federal law, a documented vessel may not have a state certificate of title, but can (and often must) be registered in the state in which it is primarily used.

Where the violation probably exists is with state law since if you are not Documented, you need to be state registered with bow numbers. Or maybe that's a federal regulation as well.....?

That is where you could potentially have your small issue, with a state enforcement officer checking you. Now, in most states you'd still have your sticker, just not your numbers and he'd fully understand why. You'd be legally registered, so question answered.

I agree Roger, there has got to be a legit and better way to get it done, my sister in law (ret. USCG) explained that if boarded your in violation but that isn't really what there're looking for... however if you are involved in an incident that is where paperwork will have to be in order and up to date. Insurance will reject claims if the dates aren't correct on the doc paperwork. Insurance companies will look for any way possible not to pay a claim. If crossing boarders then the customs officer might get pissy cause your paperwork isn't correct.

This is the way it was when I was in aviation and I doubt it has changed. Civil aviation was basically regulated by the insurance industry. It was sort of stealth privatization that may becoming to the water.

This whole issue came up for me when I asked the NVDC about a procedural side issue. The NVDC lawyer could have written back that, as soon as my COD became invalid because of the sale and my application for exchange of documentation, my vessel was no longer documented and operation was between me and the state whose waters the vessel was in. She didn't say that. Instead, she wrote very clearly that my vessel was still considered to be in documentation but, if I operated it, I would be in violation of the provisions and responsibilities of documentation. This would be true even if I was also state registered. When I spoke to the chief of enforcement in the district about how to legally move the boat, he called the NVDC and got the same answer. That fellow did confirm that, in the case of a state registered only vessel, you are permitted to operate for up to 60 days with the bill of sale. I believe somewhere in the USCG, possibly at the NVDC to increase pressure for increase funding, someone is taking a hard line towards extending this quite reasonable provision formally to documented vessels.

That's one lawyers interpretation, but occasionally lawyers disagree. That's why we have courts. Remember, the lawyer doesn't make the law, they just interpret it. And they will interpret it in a way most favorable to their client.

We are way off in the weeds of improbability here, but I admit the discussion is interesting.

It's been my experience that when you ask someone in any authority if you can do X, they will tell you No. Why? Because they are least likely to get in trouble by saying No. If they say Yes, then they will get dragged into the drama if you subsequently get in trouble. To say Yes, someone needs to think, apply judgement, take a position, and then stand behind that position - all characteristics that are in short supply.